Candyland annexes Super Marathon Bridge crown in a cliff-hanger
Bureau Report

KARACHI—Former National Champion Candyland annexed the Super Marathon Bridge Tournament by beating Data Steel in a finish by their aggressive and skillful play in the final at Aslam Bridge Hall, National Stadium on Sunday evening.
After defeating four bidders by a convincing margin, Candyland set to settle their old rivalry against Data Steel, who won their pre-final against Solox by a solitary point.
Solox gave them a very tough time. In the 3 segments of 12 Boards each, Data Steel returned with plus scores of 7 Imps in the first and 1 Imp in the second, so the third became decisive.
In this segment, Candyland suffered first setback of 6 Imps on Board No. 2 when Khaled-Mubashir overbid Four Spades, that was defeated. In the Open room, M.A.Ansari and Akhtar Zaidi stopped very rightly at a part score. This swing gave Data Steel a lead of 14 Imps.
In the very next board Candyland recovered 10 Imps, when M.A. Ansari-Akhtar Zaidi became victims of nice defence by Ziaullah Baig and Hamed Mohiddin, defeating their cold 3NT game, that was made with an overtrick by Mibashir Puri and Khaled Mohiuddin, better known as Shahid Afridi of Candyland. Data Steel’s lead was reduced to mere 4 Imps by virtue of this swing.
After conceding an overtrick on Board 1 3NT made six, Data Steel made another recovery of 8 Imps, when Akhtar Zaidi and M. A. Ansari made 3NT that was missed in the closed room by Khaled and Mubashir Puri. Data Steel led by 12 Imps at this stage.
However, Board 7 levelled the score when Khaled Mohiuddin, the Shahid Afridi of Bridge, bid boldly a diamond slam and netted twelve tricks. Five boards remaining and the lead eliminated.
In the Open room, Ziaullah Baig and Hamed Mohiddin, never believing in bouncers, hit the right spot on Board 8, stopping below game in spades to make, their adversaries in the closed room, Rashidul Ghazi-Tehsin Gheewala reached spade game and went down one.
This gave Candyland a lead of 5 Imps for the first time. In the last two boards, Candyland picked up another 9 Imps, when Hasan Akhtar Zaidi-M.A.Ansari tried to make 3NT and went down one. In the closed room Khaled-Mubashir very rightly stopped at part game in spades and on the last Board they played another part game in clubs, while Zia-Hamed penalized Data Steel pair by doubling Three spades, down two + 300 and raised their score to 37 as against 17 Imps of Data Steel.
Solox made an easy run against Four Bidders, where the two teams were playing for the third and fourth positions. Solox returned with 7 Imps in the first, 18 in the second and 22 in the third segments.
Secretary of Pakistan Bridge Federation Tariq Rasheed Khan distributed prizes to the winning team. The winning team Candyland comprised Captain Muhammad Ismail, Ziaullah Baig, Hamed Mohiuddin, Khaled Mohiuddin and Mubashir Puri got the winner trophy and cash prize of Rs.25,000.
Runners-up had the services of Tariq Rasheed, Rashidul Ghazi, Tehsin Gheewala, Hasan Akhtar, M.A.Ansari and Ghufran Ashraf got Rs.15,000 and trophy.
Solox displayed a remarkable performance under the leadership of Gulzar Bilal, Ghulam Muhammad, Anwer Kemal, Jamal Nizami and Wajahat Suri. They claimed third prize, while Four Bidders completed the frame, having Syed Ameer Hasan, Irfan Saadat, Tariq Zafar, Tanvir Mazahir and Farhat Abbas.